COUNT Function
Purpose
Counts the number of cells that contain numbers, and counts numbers within the list of arguments.
Syntax
EXCEL
=COUNT(value1, [value2], ...)
Arguments Breakdown
| Argument | Required? | Description |
|---|---|---|
value1 |
Required | The first item, cell reference, or range within which you want to count numbers. |
value2, ... |
Optional | Up to 255 additional items, cell references, or ranges to count. |
Practical Examples
1. Count Numeric Transactions Drill
From Formulas_&_Functions_Part_1.xlsx:
EXCEL
=COUNT(B3:B7)
Counts only cells with valid numbers or dates in column B.
2. Identifying Missing Data in Numeric Field
If COUNTA(A2:A100) is 100 but COUNT(A2:A100) is 94, exactly 6 rows contain text or errors instead of numbers.
What COUNT Includes vs Excludes
- Counts: Numbers, dates/times, formulas resulting in numbers.
- Ignores: Text strings, empty cells, logical values (
TRUE/FALSE), errors (#N/A,#VALUE!). - Gotcha: If numbers were imported as text (e.g.
'1024or leading zeros),COUNTwill return0! UseVALUE()or Text to Columns to fix.
Related Knowledge
- Notes: 02 Statistical and Aggregation Functions
- Workbook:
11_Demos_and_Workbooks/03_Formulas_and_Functions/Formulas_&_Functions_Part_1.xlsx(Sheet:Counting)